Bearing seal for rotary shafts



March 17, 1942. J.- M. LEAKE BEARING SEAL FOR ROTARY SHAFTS Filed Sept.l, 1939 Patented Mar. 17, 1942 lmuriel) -STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in seals, particularly seals forfluid pumps, such as the water pump of an internal combustion engine.

One object of my invention is to provide a flexible sealing unit thuspermitting relative longitudinal movement between the shaft and bearing,as Well as to compensate for wear in the sealing washer,

Anotherv object of my invention is ta provide a sealing unit that doesnot come in contact with the rotary shaft, thus providing relativelongitudinal movement between the shaft and bearing regardless ofcorrosion or roughness of the shaft. This feature also permits the useof ordinary steel shaft where many of the present types of seals requirethe use of special shafts that are rust resistant, and in addition anexpensive polishing operation. Another object of my invention is toprovide a bearing seal that; permits the use yof a washer made ofcarbon, Bakelite or similar material that requires little or nolubrication.

Another object of my invention is to providel a bearing seal for rotaryshafts that can easily be replaced.

Another object of my invention is-to provide a. bearing seal for rotaryshafts that is universal, that is it can be used for shafts of differentdiameters and also in seal housings of difieren sizes. i

Another object of my invention is to -provide a bearing seal for rotaryshafts that requires the assembling of a minimum number of parts inreplacement. This reduces the cost of replacement and also avoidsimproper assembly by unskilled mechanics.v

Another object of my invention is to provide a bearing seal for rotaryshafts in which the rubber or flexible part is locked in position whenthe seal'is assembled in position for operation.

-ing the seal. My improved type of bearing seal for rotary shafts is soconstructed that the rubber of flexible part is locked in position andcan not become dislocated even though it swells and becomes slippery dueto the action of warm water or anti-freeze solutions.

Another object of my invention ,is to provide --a bearing seal forrotary shafts thatl is simple,

durable and inexpensive.

With these and other objects in view, my in-v vention consists Vin theconstruction, combination and arrangement ofthe various parts of myimproved device as described in the specification, claimed in the claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central'vertical section through a pump housing showing theimpeller and the bearing seal with the shaft shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of my flexible sealing unit.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my flexible sealing unit.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of my flexible sealing unit.

Fig.- `5 shows the type of sealing washer used in some of the presenttypes of bearing seals.

Fig. 6 is a view in half section in which my flexible sealing unit andthe sealing washer are fastened together as one unit.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a drive shaft I0 rotatably mounted in a bearingII and supported by a housing I2 of a water pump or other uid fcontaining device. VThe end of the pump housing I3 is removable throughthe medium of the bolts I1. To the shaft l0 issecured an impeller It bymeans of a pin I9.

The flexible bearing seal unit I4, forming the feature'of the inventionis housed in a cup I5 provided by the impeller I8. The flexible sealingV unit is centered in the cup or impeller hub i5 by means of the annularflexible ring It. The rotary shaft passes through the flexible sealingunit It but does not come in contact with the sealing unit. One of theouter ends of the fiexible bearing seal I4 bears directly against thebearing portion 29 of the impeller I8 as shown in Fig. 1. The other endof the bearing seal unit Id bears "directly against the face of thesealing washer 40 30. The other face of the washer 30 in turn bearsdirectly against a smooth annular bearing surface 22 of the housing I2.In operation the shaft I0,

.the impeller I8, the flexible sealing unit I4 and the washer'30rotateas one unit. 'The sealing washer 30 is composed of carbon,Bakelite or any material that will serve this purpose with little or nolubrication. The sealing washer 30' bears directly against the annularbearing surface 22 of the housing I2 and in operation rotates inrelation thereto.

The fluid enters through the passageway 3|, goes into the annularchamber'2l and leaves the pump by means of the .passageway 32. It willreadily be seen that with the use of my improved bearing seal for rotaryshafts the fluid does not contact the shaft I0. The flexible bearingseal bears against the portion 29 of the vimpeller and also against thesealing washer 30 thus fluid can not reached the shaft at these points.Since the shaft I0, the impeller I8, the sealing unit I4 and the sealingwasher 30 rotate as a unit the parts can not deteriorate becauseof-friction and wear. The smooth face of the sealing washer 30 bearingagainst the annular surface 22 of the housing I2 formsa seal whether theshaft IU rotates or not. 'The small amount of wear that takes place dueto the rubbing of the sealing washer 30 on the annular surface 22 iscompensated for by the longitudinal expansion of the flexible bearingseal I4.

The foregoing description relates particularly to the type of fluidpumps used in -connection with the internal combustion engines, but itcan readily beseen where my improved type of seal can be used inconnection with any type o'f fluid pumps or as a bearing seal for otherrotary shafts.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the bearing seal I4 and Fig. 4is an end view of the same. v

The bearing seal I4 comprises an annular U- shaped rubber or flexiblemember 33. The outer end faces of the U-shaped rubber or flexible member33 are provided with a series of annular' ridges or ribs 34. Theseannular ridges greatly aid in obtaining a good seal on either side ofthe flexible seal I4 as shown in Fig. 1.

A flexible annular flange I6 is formed integral with the annularU-shaped member 33. This flange centers the unit I4 in the housing andreadily adapts one sized unit to be used in various sized housings. Fig.1 clearly shows how the flange I6 centers the flexible bearing seal I4in the housing or cup I5.

The inner periphery of the legs of the U -shaped body are providedinwardly extending beads 35. Annular stampings 36, conforming to thecontour of the inner side of the leg portion 31, extending around thebead 35 and terminating near the outside of the inner periphery of theleg portion 31; are held against the leg portions 31` of the U-shapedmember by means of the spring A38. The spring 38 keeps the sealing unitI4 expanded the maximum possible distance at all times. After the unitI4 is assembled the annular stampings are bent so they lock the bead 35securely inposition. Fig. 2 shows the annular stamping 36 bent so as'tolock the bead 35 in position.

When my bearing seal is installed it is compressed a small amount. Thespring 38 expands the exible bearing seal I4 .to compensate for wearandalso provides the pressure for firmly pressing the annular ribs 24against their respective bearing surfaces thus .forming a reliablesealat these points. .Y

When the exible bearing seal I4 is in operating position, as shown inFig. 1, the flexible member 33 can not get out of-position. My novelflexible bearing seal has a. double locking arrangement to keep -theflexible member 33 4in position. First the bead 35 is locked in positionarrangement of the bead 35, the annular stamping 36 and the spring 38.

'I'he construction disclosed in Fig. 6 lvaries from that shown in Figs.1 land 2 in that the bearing washer 30 is made a part of the 'exiblebearing seal unit by extending the annular stamping 4I and flanging itin a chamfered portion of the washer 30 as shown. This constructionprovides all of the replacement parts of the seal in Ia single unit. Italso eliminates improper installation by unskilled mechanics.

Fig. 5 discloses an end view of the present type of annular cup orimpeller hub I5. The sealing washer 30 is provided with lugs 44 that tin slots 45 cut in the impeller hub I5. This shows how vthe washer 30 isdriven from the impeller I5 through the lugs 44,

With my type of bearing seal it is not necessary -to have a shaftcomposed of rust resisting material or polish the shaft because theshaft I Il does not come in contact with the flexible bearing seal I4nor the bearing washer 30. Therefore corrosion of the shaft does noteffect my seal and furthermore corrosion of the shaft I0 is minimizedbecause my improved seal does not allow the uid to contact the shaft.

It will readily be seen that my flexible bearing seal is universal. Theflexible annular flange I6 provides a means whereby the bearingseal canbe centered in housings of various sizes and shapes. It can also be usedwith a range of shaft sizes because it does not t closely around theclaim is? shaft.

My improved rotary shaft bearing seal also permits the use of a simple,durable and inexpensive sealing washer.

While I have described several embodiments of my invention, I do notwish to ,be limited to the particular forms shown and described as itwill be apparent that many modifications therein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. Having thus described my invention what I channel shaped member;a compressible spring interposed between said annular members ofS-shaped cross section for expanding said annular channel shaped memberaxially; said annular members of s -shaped cross section serving as anannular channel member for holding said compressible spring in positionand the inner portion extending partially around said annular bead forholding said annular bead in position; and a flexible flange integralwith and extending radially outwardly from said annular flexible channelshaped member, said flexible flange adapted to center said flexible unitin housings of different 2. A flexible unit for fluid pump sealscomprisingf an annular flexible channel member with radially inwardlyextending sides; annular beads extending axially inwardly from saidradially in wardly extending sides; a spring for expanding said annularflexible channel member; and a plurality of members of S-shaped crosssection adjacent the radially inwardly extending sides providing innerand outer channel portions, said outer channel portions adapted toretain the ends A of said spring and said inner channel portionsextending around said annular beads for holding having radiallyextending side members provided with a bead extending axially inwardlyfrom the inner periphery of each of said radially extending sides;annular members of Sshaped cross section adjacent. the inner sides ofsaid radially extending side members; a spring for expanding saidannular flexible channel member axially; each of said annular members ofS-shaped cross section providing two channel shaped portions; the outerchannel shaped' portions providing a means for retaining the ends ofsaid spring and the inner channel shaped portions providing a means forfastening said beads.

4. A ilexible unit for uid pump seals com-y prising; an annular flexiblechannel member, said annular flexible channel member comprising anannular band portion provided with disk portions extending radiallyinwardly from either end of said band portion; an annular bead integralwith and extending axially inwardly from the inner periphery of each ofsaid disk portions; an annular stamping adjacent the inner side of eachof said disk portions, said annular stampings providing a channel orgroove for retaining a spring adapted to expand said annular ilexiblechannel member and providing a means for holding said annular beads inposition whereby said annular ilexible channel member is prevented frombeing dislocated.

5.V A flexible unit for iiuid pump seals comprising; an annular flexiblechannel member with .radially inwardly extending sides; annular beadsintegral with said radially inwardly extending sides, said annular beadsextending axially inwardly from the inner 'periphery of said radiallyinwardly extending sides; annular stampings adjacent the inner walls ofsaid radially inwardly extending sides; a spring interposed between saidstampings for expanding said annular ilexible channel member axially;the outer periphery of said annular stampings providing an annulargroove for retaining the ends of said spring, thel inner periphery o!said annular stampings extending around said annular beads ior holdingsaid bead in position whereby the annular ilexiv-ble channel member isheld in position; and an annular flexible flange extending radially fromsaid annular ilexible channel member for centering said ilexible unit inhousings of diilerent sizes.

JAMES M. LEAKE.

serving a dual purpose, said annular stampingsy

